Historically, ear and body piercing was popular in many societies and cultures. Nose piercing was recorded thousands of years ago. Septum, or the center of the nose, piercing is a sign of manhood in some tribes, while lip or labret piercing is used to indicate marriage of a woman in others. Other parts of the body are also pierced, including the navel, which is the belly button and the tongue.
Both silver and gold have long been used as body jewelry. Wooden piercings are common amongst more primitive tribes. Nickel is also used, but causes allergy issues in some individuals. Body jewelry consists most commonly of rings, studs or dangles.
Ear lobe piercings are so simple they are commonly performed in jewelry and accessory stores. Little specialized equipment is required for piercing your ears and the simple procedure is considered very safe. Other body piercings take place in parlors or studios. Tattoo shops often offer body piercings. Piercings of the ear's cartilage or tragus are also generally done in piercing or tattoo parlors. Care often needs to be taken when inserting jewelry into more sensitive piercings.
Many piercings will also heal over if no longer used. It is commonly a requirement to keep jewelry in a new piercing consistently for the first few weeks to prevent it from healing over. It is always important to properly clean and care for your new earring or body piercing so that it does not become infected. Talk to the professional who performs your ear or body piercing for tips on how to properly care for your new piercing.

People have used body and ear piercing as body decorations for thousands of years. You can find many ear piercing services in your directory and on the Internet, but you need to know what questions to ask to make sure that you will be safe and that you can get the jewelry and personal care products that are right for you. When you first contact the ear piercing service, ask them how long they have been in business. Those that have been open for several years should have the equipment and experience to perform your piercing safely. Ask the shop if they are affiliated with any other body decorations like tattoos. Many of these stores share space, making it possible for you to get a piercing and a tattoo if you think you are up to. You should keep your safety in mind when you decide which shop to use. While getting your ears pierced is fairly safe, inserting studs into other parts of the body can be a little more dangerous. Ask the ear piercing service if they have safe equipment and local certifications. Once you have found some services that you feel safe with, you will need to decide which ones have the earrings, studs, and other jewelry that you prefer. Ask them if they have studs and rings made of white gold, silver, and gold. You should also ask them if they have personal care products so that you can keep the pierced area clean to prevent infection.